In 1989, the orphanage administrators came to Amma and confessed they were out of funds. They said that before long, they would have no choice but to turn their 500 children out on the street.

Amma diverted the money that had been saved to build her ashram’s first prayer hall and used it to assume care of the children. With this, Embracing the World began its first humanitarian project.

Over the years, these children - many of whom came from homes torn apart by alcoholism and severe domestic violence - found a place where they were given the love, education and support needed to become adults with stable and successful lives.

“Most of the children came from the Attapadi tribal area, where they had no means even to eat a full meal,” explains Suresh, an alumni of the orphanage.

“Amma brought us all here, educated us until high school and even supported us after school if we wanted to study further. It changed our lives, or rather gave us a life itself.”

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